Moving apparatus for buildings and other loads

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for moving buildings such as houses and the like heavy loads of various shapes and sizes, comprising a frame made of a plurality of rigidly interconnectable modular frame sections, to form a frame surrounding a house, power-driven and power-steered wheel assemblies supporting said frame above ground and power-operated load-lifting means mounted on said frame to lift the house for its transport by the wheeled frame, and framelifting means to lift the frame in order to rotate the wheels, the system so arranged that the frame can be modified in accordance with the shape and size of the load to be transported in order to closely surround the same, and also the load-lifting means can be operated from a remote point in a controlled manner so as to lift the house uniformly and wherein the vehicle can be displaced in any direction so that the house may be lowered in the exact spot and at the right orientation; also, the vehicle may be disassembled and made narrower for an empty to suit road regulations.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Roger Bisson 1825 Delorlmer Street, Ville Jacques,

Cartier, Quebec, Canada [21 1 Appl. No. 807,661 [22] Filed Mar. 17, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 17, 1971 [54] MOVING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS AND OTHER LOADS 17 Claims, 31 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.CI 214/1 H, 238/13 [51] B65g 67/02 [50] 214/515,l 1-1, 1, 394, 396, 38.46; 238/13 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Re. 18,752 2/1933 Fitch 214/38 (.46) 1,562,430 1 H1925 Alexander. 2.38/13 2,472,932 6/1949 Adkins 214/1 (1-1) 3,231,121 l/1966 Powell 214/515 3,236,400 2/1966 Turturro et al. 214/1 (l-1)X FOREIGN PATENTS 220,656 4/1962 Austria 214/1 (H) 752,221 2/1967 Canada Primary ExaminerGerald M. Forlenza Assistant ExaminerFrank E. Werner Attorney-Pierre Lesperance ABSTRACT: An apparatus for moving buildings such as houses and the like heavy loads of various shapes and sizes, comprising a frame made of a plurality of rigidly interconnectable modular frame sections, to form a frame surrounding a house, power-driven and power-steered wheel assemblies supporting said frame above ground and power-operated loadlifting means mounted on said frame to lift the house for its transport by the wheeled frame, and frame-lifting means to lift the frame in order to rotate the wheels, the system so arranged that the frame can be modified in accordance with the shape and size of the load to be transported in order to closely surround the same, and also the load-lifting means can be operated from a remote point in a controlled manner so as to lift the house uniformly and wherein the vehicle can be displaced in any direction so that the house may belowered in the exact spot and at the right orientation; also, the vehicle may be disassembled and made narrower for an empty to suit road regulations.

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A (iF/V T PATENTEDAUBI mn 3,599,808 sum 10 or 10 BY W AGENT MOVING APPARATUS FOR BUILDINGS AND OTHER LOADS The present invention relates to a vehicle for the transport of large size heavy loads, such as houses and the like.

Various methods and equipment are being used for the transport of houses and the like, but these methods are time consuming because they entail a considerable amount of work to lift the house and place it on a vehicle and then to remove the house from the vehicle and place it in exactly adjusted position on already prepared footing or foundation at the new site.

Also, great difficulties are encountered in the moving of houses of irregular shape, such as houses having an L-shaped plan section and houses having a narrow foundation in relation to its height.

Existing methods and apparatuses for the purpose described are also highly time consuming, because they involve a large part of manual work; they are dangerous to the working personnel and, moreover, often result in distortion or development of cracks in the building due to uneven raising and lowering of the same.

The general object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle for the transport or moving of large and heavy loads, such as houses, which obviate the above-noted disadvantages.

A more specific object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, comprising a frame adapted to be mounted on wheeled units and made of detachable interconnectable modular frame sections which may be connected together in different ways to conform to any shape and size of a house to be moved and closely surround the same, said frame carrying the load-lifting means.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, in which all of the wheeled units are steerable through at least 90 and the wheels are power driven in forward or reverse, and the frame itself is provided with power-operated lifting means so that the wheels can be turned by raising the load-supporting frame so as to enable displacement of the load in any direction for accurate positioning at a new site.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, in which the lifting means and the driving and steering means for the wheeled units, are remote controlled so as to reduce the number of required workmen to a minimum and so also as to provide for uniform raising and lowering of the load and for the accurate positioning of the same.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, which can be modified to transport a high and narrow base load.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, which can be very easily taken apart and narrowed down for travelling at higher speed on roads in accordance with traffic regulations.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, in which the frame is arranged to form a close figure with protruding ends to which a transverse towing frame member is pivotally connected and which is in turn firmly secured on top of the semitrailer of a towing vehicle or other towing units, so that the latter may take inclined positions with respect to the load-supporting frame without imparting stresses to the latter.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of a vehicle of the character described, in which the above-named pivotal connections are universal pivoting joints so as to completely eliminate any torsional or twisting stresses which might be transmitted from the towing vehicle to the load sustaining frame during transport.

The foregoing and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent during the following disclosure and by referring to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of typical sizes of three foundations of houses to be transported by the vehicle of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation of a house showing the foundation in cross section;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing how a house is lifted with its foundation;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2, showing how a house is lifted without its foundation;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation of a first embodiment of the vehicle sustaining a house lifted off its foundation;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a rear end elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a side elevation of a modified vehicle in which the wheeled units are steerable and motorized and showing a support frame-lifting means and also showing a steerable wheel unit for the semitrailer of a towing truck, the latter, together with all the wheeled units shown, rotated at with respect to the frame;

FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a portion of the supporting frame in which the sections are connected in a modified manner at the back comers thereof to reduce to a minimum the width of the supporting frame consistent with the load supported thereby;

FIG. 10 is a partial sectional view, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a partial front elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 5, the towing truck being removed and showing in longitudinal section the pivotal joint between the longitudinal members and the transverse towing frame member;

FIG. 12 is a front elevation of the front transverse towing frame member supported on steerable and motorized wheeled unit shown turned at 90;

FIG. 13 is a rear end elevation of the load-sustaining frame of the vehicle showing steerable wheeled units disposed closer together, so that the vehicle may negotiate narrow roads with a wide load;

FIG. 14 is a side elevation of a vehicle in which the loadsupporting frame sections are connected in superposed rows to support an extra large load;

FIG. 15 is a rear end elevation of the arrangement of FIG. 14 and showing frame-lifting means in raised position;

FIG. 16 is a front end elevation of the frame arrangement of FIG. 14, the towing truck being removed and showing the frame-lifting means in operative position;

FIG. 17 is a plan view of the vehicle in which the frame is provided with a central longitudinal frame member to directly support the roof of a shed or hangar of less substantial construction;

FIG. 18 is a longitudinal section, taken along line 18-18 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 19 is a cross section, taken along line 19-19 of FIG. 17;

FIG. 20 is a top plan view of a modified vehicle for the transport of a generally L-shaped house and also showing motorized and self-propelled wheeled units eliminating the need ofa towing truck;

FIG. 21 is a side elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 20;

FIG. 22 is a rear end elevation of a modified vehicle for the transport of a narrow and high load;

FIG. 23 is a rear end elevation similar to that of FIG. 7 but showing the transverse load-supporting beams made in sections and also showing the load-lifting means mounted within the hollow frame sections;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the vehicle in which the front transverse towing frame member is reinforced and showing also the house supporting and lifting beam system provided with foundation snubbing means;

FIG. 25 is a side elevation showing the frame arrangement of FIG. 24 but in which the beam system is arranged for lifting a house with its foundation;

FIG. 26 is a top plan view of a vehicle modified to transport a house of irregular plan section;

FIG. 27 shows a frame section with a motorized hydraulic pump unit mounted thereon;

FIG. 28 is an end view of the arrangement of FIG. 27;

FIG. 29 is a vertical section of a motorized and steerable wheeled unit and showing also the connections of two frame sections at a comer of the load-supporting frame;

FIG. 30 is a section taken along line 30-30 of FIG. 29; and

FIG. 31 is a side elevation, on an enlarged scale, of the foundation snubbing means carried by the house supporting and lifting beam system and shown in top plan view in FIG. 24.

In the drawings, like reference characters indicate like elements throughout.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the foundations A, B, C of three typical sizes and shapes of houses to be transported by the vehicle of the invention, although the vehicle may be made, as will be later appear, to transport houses and other loads of irregular shapes and other sizes.

FIG. 2 shows a house D to be transported by the vehicle of the invention, said house having foundation walls E resting on a footing F. It is seen that the ground G around the house must be cleared right to the level of the footing in order to transport the house with its foundation.

FIG. 3 shows how a house together with its foundation E is lifted by means of a system of beams including load-supporting beams 1 arranged in parallel relationship and engaging openings 2 made in the foundation walls E, and lifting I beams 3 arranged perpendicular to the first beams 1 under the same, the outer lifting perpendicular to the first beams 1 under the same, the outer lifting beams 3 being outside the foundation walls and the central one extending through notches 4 made in the foundation walls at the front and back of the house just above footing F.

FIG. 4 shows an arrangement in which the house D is lifted off its foundation walls E which remain in position. In this case, first beams 1 and the central beam 3 are first inserted through notches 5 and 6 made at the upper edge of the foundation walls E. Then the house is lifted by pulling upwardly on the beams 3.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show a first embodiment of the vehicle of the invention. Said vehicle comprises a load-supporting frame, generally indicated at 7, and adapted to closely surround the load, such as the house D, the frame being mounted on wheeled units 8, for instance at the rear comers thereof, and supported at the front on a semitrailer or wheeled platform 9, in turn connected by a fifth wheel 10 to a standard towing truck 11.

The frame 7 is made, in accordance with the invention, of a plurality of frame sections 12 of open work construction and of generally elongated boxlike shape. For instance, as shown in FIG. 29, each frame section 12 is composed of angle irons 13 extending longitudinally of the frame section along the edges thereof and having ends also defined by transversely extending angle irons. All of the angle irons are welded together and the frame section is reinforced by diagonal bracing strips or members 14. The frame sections have a generally rectangular cross section and the bracing members 14 are located at the outer faces of the frame sections so as to leave a free space therein. The frame sections are adapted to be removably connected in end-to-end relationship or in end-to-side relationship by means of high-tensile strength bolts and nuts 15 or the like connections. The frame sections 12 form modular units in a small number of standard length. They are designed to resist to bending forces.

Referring back to FIGS. 5 to 7, it is seen that in this embodiment the frame sections are interconnected to form a pair of longitudinal members 16, front and back transverse members 17 having their ends connected to the sides of the longitudinal members 16 inwardly thereof, and a transversely extending transverse towing and sustaining frame member 19 which is pivotally connected at 20 at its ends to the front ends of the longitudinal members 16, forwardly of the front transverse member 17.

Towing frame member 19 is generally arranged parallel to the transverse members 17 and 18. Its center section is pivoted about a vertical axis 9 on wheeled platform 9. Its terminal frame sections 21 are preferably tapered towards the pivotal connections 20. The latter may consist, as shown in FIG. 11, of a ball joint, the ball 22 carried by terminal frame sections 21 and the mating sleeve 23 being formed at the end of tapered terminal frame section of each of the longitudinal members 16. Thus, the pivotal connections 20 provide universal pivot joints.

The frame 7 closely surrounds the house D or other loads supported thereby and the towing frame member 19 may pivot about its longitudinal axis with respect to the load-sustaining portion of the frame 7, so as to eliminate any stresses which might be transmitted to longitudinal members 16 by towing frame member 19 due to relative inclination of the platform 9 with respect to longitudinal members 16. Pivots 20 also allow longitudinal members 16 to pivot horizontally relative to member 19 when members 17 and 18 are not connected to complete the frame. This is useful, for instance, when the vehicle frame is assembled on the street and then backed up and turned with members 16 spread apart, to encompass the house intended to be moved. Once members 16 are positioned, transverse members 17 and 18 are connected to complete the frame around the house. During transport, the spring suspension of wheels 25 of semitrailer 9 absorbs lateral unevenness of the road. Obviously, member 19 can be directly pivotally supported on the platform of a multiple wheel towing truck.

In the embodiment shown, the wheeled units 8 at the rear comers of the frame 7 are detachable secured underneath the comers of the support frame 7.

The towing truck 11 can steer the frame due to the vertical pivots at the fifth wheel 10 and between platform 9 and towing member 19.

FIGS. 5 to 7 also show the arrangement of the house supporting beams 1 and 3 lifted off the foundation wall E. In this case, all of the beams 1 and 3 have been positioned in notches 5, 6 made in the foundation walls at the top edge thereof. All the beams 3 extend inside the foundation walls E and terminate underneath the front and back transverse frame members l7 and 18 and are lifted by power-operated winch means mounted within said transverse members 17 and 18 in the manner shown in FIG. 23.

Referring to FIG. 23, the load-lifting means may consist, for each end of each lifting beam 3, of a power-operated lifting unit, shown at 26, secured and disposed within the frame sections 12 on the lower part thereof with the lifting cable 27 extending through the frame section and hooked unto a bracket 28 secured to the I beam 3.

The lifting unit 26 may consist of a winch operated by a hydraulic motor, in turn driven by a hydraulic pump operated by an internal combustion engine. Obviously, the hydraulic motor and pump may be replaced by an electric generator motor set, or other means, affording precise control of the lifting and lowering rate of the cable. Obviously, the plurality of cables may be used depending on the weight to be lifted and double pulleys may also be provided.

The load-lifting units 26 may be positioned anywhere along the frame 7 at suitable locations for vertical disposition of the lifting cables 27.

FIG. 23 also shows that it is possible to form the beams 1 out of different sections 1 interconnected by underlying frame sections 1".

As shown in FIG. 9, the outside 1 beams 3 may be disposed outside the foundation walls of the house D to extend directly below the longitudinal frame members 16. The load lifting units 26 for the outside beams 3 will be disposed within the longitudinal frame members 16.

FIG. 9 shows also that frame members 16 can be interconnected to the rear transverse member 18 so as to abut at one end face a side of the member 18 and the latter will project outwardly of the frame 7, with the wheeled units 8 mounted under the outer end of the transverse frame member 18, as shown, to thereby form an arrangement in which the longitudinal member 16 is as close as possible to the sides of the house D to thereby reduce to a minimum the required length of beams 1.

The lifting beams 3 may also be arranged transversely of the frame 7 instead of longitudinally, as shown.

The wheeled units 8 may be of the nonsteerable and/or free wheeling type for small size applications; they may be manually steerable, but are preferably power operated for steering through at least 90 in either direction and preferably 360, and are preferably also power driven for forward and rearward movement.

A motorized, power-steerable tandem-type wheeled unit 8 is shown in FIGS. 29 and 30, wherein it is seen that a circular casing 39 is secured underneath a fastening plate 31, the latter rigidly detachably secured underneath a frame section 12 by means, for instance, of high tensile strength nuts and bolts 32.

Casing 30 provides an annular bearing surface 33 supported by an annular bearing flange 34 of a wheel-carrying casing 35.

A detachable ring 36 maintains the two casings in engagement and the lower casing may rotate about a vertical axis with respect to the upper casing. A suitable bearing (not shown) may be interposed between casings 30 and 35.

A crown gear 39 with inwardly directed teeth is secured within the upper casing 30 and is coaxial with the vertical rotational axis of the lower casing.

A reversible hydraulic rotary motor 38 is secured within the lower casing and has a pinion 39 meshing with the gear 39' for steering movement of the lower casing 35.

Obviously, crown gear 39' could be mounted within casing 35 and motor 38 within upper casing 30, if desired. A rotary joint may be provided for the supply tubing of motors 40 and 38.

A second hydraulic motor 40, secured to and disposed within the lower casing 35, drives, through gear chains and sprocket 41, input shafts 74 of the differentials of the double tire wheels 43. The input shafts 74 have universal joints '74. The differentials (not shown) and the wheel shafts 42 are enclosed in unitary differential and axle housings 71 and 71'. A pair of arms 72 are pivotally connected to the underside of axle housings 71' and a suspension spring 73 is attached to the center of each arm 72 and its ends shackled to inclined web extensions 35 of casing 35. Each double wheel 43 has a conventional brake 75. Casing 35 is further reinforced by webs 35. Each housing 71 is prevented from turning by a link 76 pivoted thereto and to casing 35. The output shaft of motor 40 can be braked, for instance, by a magnetic braking system 44. Arms 72 could be pivotally connected directly to casing 35 without the interposition of suspension springs 73.

The wheeled unit 8 described in FIGS. 29 and 30 may be driven and steered when disconnected from a frame section 12, for instance when assembling the vehicle frame or when disassembling its parts and storing units 8.

The motor 40 can be connected to a suitable controlled supply of hydraulic fluid under pressure. The unit 8 can be steered in a manner similar to an endless track vehicle by braking wheels 43 on the inside of the intended turn, whereby the differentials will cause rotation of the outside wheels 43. If necessary, wedging of an inside wheel may further be used to aid the turn.

As a modification, each of the four wheels could be independent and provided with its own reversible motor to rotate the wheels on the inside of the turn in reverse, while forwardly rotating the wheels on the outside of the turn. Thus, still more positive steering could be obtained.

FIG. 8 shows the load-sustaining frame 7, and also semitrailer 9, provided with motorized and power-steerable wheeled units 8. The wheels of the units 8, together with towing truck 11, are shown turned through 90 with respect to the long axis of frame 7 for lateral displacement of the house D supported by frame 7. When frame 7 is provided with such steerable wheeled units and the load is heavy, units 8 can be steered when the vehicle is moving. However, when the loaded vehicle is stationary, it is necessary to provide a framelifting means, generally indicated at 45, in order to raise the wheels 43 off the ground to turn the same. Such means may include a double-acting hydraulic cylinder and piston unit 46, the piston of which is pivotally connected near the outer end of a lever arm 47 pivoted at its inner end 47' to a bracket 48 and provided at it outer end with a pivotable ground-engaging pad 49. The bracket 48 is detachably secured underneath a frame section 12 so that arm 47 will pivot in a vertical plane, while the cylinder 46 is preferably arranged within the frame section and is pivoted at 50 to a suitable bracket, also detachably secured to the same or to another frame section. Other types of power-operated frame-lifting means could obviously be provided.

The frame lifting means 45 may be arranged anywhere along the members of the frame 7 and preferably adjacent the wheeled units 8, so as to lift the same off the ground for rotating the wheels of units 8 while the load-carrying vehicle is stationary.

FIG. 16 shows two frame-lifting means 45 in operative position; these means are shown mounted along the transverse towing member 19 of the vehicle.

FIG. 8 shows therefore that it is possible to lift the frame 7 with the load D sustained by the same and then to rotate the wheels of the wheeled units 8 through The towing truck 11 can also be rotated through 90 with respect to the frame 7; this may be effected by raising the platform 9 and wheeled unit 8 attached thereto by means of the frame-lifting devices 45 mounted underneath towing member 19 on each side of the platform 9 and detaching or not the platform 9 from fifth wheel 10. Thus, it is possible to displace the house laterally, for instance between two houses in a crowded site, so as to deposit the house exactly on the new footings or new foundations.

FIG. 12 shows a modified arrangement in which the towing truck 11 and platform 9 are removed and a front steerable and motorized wheeled unit 8 is directly secured underneath the center of the front towing member 19, the unit 8 being shown turned to 90 with respect to the long axis of frame 7.

FIG. 13 shows that the motorized wheeled units 8 may be secured to the back transverse member 18, intermediate the ends thereof, so as to negotiate a narrow road with a wide load.

FIGS. 14,15, and 16 show that the frame 7 may be reinforced with a second row of superposed frame sections 12 whenever it is desired to transport extra large houses, the second row of frame sections being bolted down to the first row section for all the frame members 16, 17, 18, and 19. More than two rows of frame sections 12 may be provided. In such a case the load-lifting units may be carried by frame sections of an upper row. Obviously, instead of additional rows of frame sections, one could reinforce frame members 16 to 19 by suitable modular trusses.

FIG. 15 shows also a load lifting means 26 mounted on the front transverse member 17. FIG. 16 also shows a steerable and motorized wheeled unit 8 secured directly underneath the front towing section 19 instead of the assembly of the platform 9 and towing truck 11.

FIG. 15 shows that it is possible to add additional wheeled units 8 for a large size frame. For instance, a wheeled unit 8 may be disposed centrally of the back transverse member 18.

FIGS. 17 to 19 show that the frame 7 of the vehicle of FIG. 6 may be further provided with a central longitudinal frame member 16', made of end-to-end connected frame sections 12 and secured to a side of the center portions of front transverse member 17 and back transverse member 18 and extending, for instance, through door openings 51 of a lighter weight building 52, such as a shed, hangar and the like, wherein, in addition to the usual load-lifting system 1, 3 for the walls or foundation of building 52, the roof 53 thereof is directly supported by the longitudinal beam 55 running across the bottom joists of the roof. This may be necessary in case of buildings which might collapse if solely supported from the bottom of the walls or foundations thereof.

FIGS. 20,21 show a vehicle in accordance with invention modified to transport a house D having a dependent'lateral portion D". One longitudinal member 16 has an offset portion to closely surround the depending portion D, as shown at 7, and the resultant inside comer is reinforced by an additional frame section 12. These figures also show that the frame 7 is completely supported, and is movable, by means of the motorized and steerable wheeled units 8 without a towing truck 11 and wheeled platform 9. In this arrangement, there is a wheeled unit 8 at a rear corner of frame 7 opposite to frame portion 7', a wheeled unit at the longitudinal portion of the frame portion 7' and another wheeled unit mounted underneath the center of the towing frame member 19.

The arrangement also shows a control cabin 56 mounted on top of the center of the towing frame member 19, wherein all the controls for the wheeled units 8 and for the load-lifting units 26 and the frame-lifting means 45 are centralized, so that one operator can attend to the operation of these various means. These figures also show, together with FIGS. 27 and 28, that an internal combustion engine may be mounted on the frame 7 at any suitable location and coupled with a hydraulic pump 58 connected by fluid lines 59 to the various hydraulic motors of the vehicle of the invention, namely: the motors of the load-lifting units 26, of the frame lifting means 45 and of the motorized and steerable wheeled units 8. All of these units may be controlled from a suitable electric control panel 60 provided with pushbuttons for electrically operated solenoid valves for the various hydraulic lines, the valves being located at the engine 57. Thus, the control of the lifting and lowering of the frame 7 and of the load, such as a house, and the control of the displacement in any direction of the wheeled frame 7, may be accomplished from a single control station and signalling devices may be used to obtain uniform lifting and lowering of the load, proper steering of the wheeled units and uniform lifting and lowering of the frame 7.

FIG. 22 shows a frame 7, mounted on wheeled units 8, and provided with two or more inverted U-shaped upstanding frame members 61, also made of interconnected frame sections 12, and secured in upright position along the sides of the frame 7 to surround the sides and top of a high and narrow base load L supported by frame 7 by means of the assembly of beams 1 and 3 and load-lifting units 26.

Tilting of the load L is prevented by hydraulic cylinder and lever arm units 62 mounted on the upright frame member 61 and engaging the sides of the load, said units 62 being hydraulically operated and similar in their construction to the frame lifting means 45.

Other means than units 62 could obviously be used for snubbing load L.

FIGS. 24 and 25 show a vehicle similar to that of FIGS. 5 and 6 but in which the front towing frame member 19 is reinforced by additional frame sections secured to the sides of member 19, centrally thereof. Preferably, the reinforcing frame sections 12 are disposed sideways to reinforce the towing member 19 against longitudinal bending in a horizontal plane. This arrangement may be necessary when towing a heavy load up or down an inclined road. The assembly of the reinforcing frame sections 12 and the frame member 19 form a large surface which may be surrounded by a guard rail 63, as shown in FIG. 25, and which may be covered with grating 64, as shown in FIG. 26, for use by the operating personnel and also for the transport of small size items which may belong to the house being transported.

FIG. 24 shows furthermore the arrangement of the lifting I beams 3 inside of the foundation walls E of the house being transported with the load-lifting units 26 arranged on the front and back transverse members 17 and 18 of the frame 7. This figure shows also, in conjunction with FIG. 31, foundation wall snubbing means mounted on the load-supporting beams 1 and including a stop plate 65 applied against one side of the foundation wall and a pusher plate 66 applied against the other side of the foundation wall and pressed against the same by a horizontally disposed jack 67 hearing at its other end against a bracket 68 secured to the beam I.

Said snubbing means may also be mounted on the beams 3, as shown in FIG. 24, for engaging the end foundation walls of the house.

FIG. 25 shows that the lifting beams 3 may be made in sections connected in end-to-end relationship. This figure also shows, in conjunction with FIGS. 3 and 31, that the house together with its foundation walls may be lifted, carried by tl" vehicle and lowered unto the footings F at another site. As hereinabove described, the house-supporting beams 1 are inserted through openings 2 made in, for instance, the longitudinal foundation walls of the house and the lifting beams 3 are inserted through openings or notches 4 made at the level of the footings F in the end walls of the building. Upon lifting of the house, the foundation walls will be separated from the footings F. The foundation walls are snubbed in position on the beams 1 and 3 by the snubbing beams 65 to 68 prior to the lifting of the building.

The building is transported by the vehicle while in raised position by being suspended from the cables 27 of the load lifting units 26. Obviously, the beams 1, shown in FIG. 24, could be extended to be applied against the underside of the longitudinal members 16 of the frame 7 to prevent their longitudinal or lateral displacement during transport.

FIG. 26 shows a vehicle in which the frame 7 is arranged for the transport of an irregularly shaped house, the foundation walls of which are indicated at E and forming a restricted front portion. In order for the frame 7 to closely surround the house, for reducing as much as possible the length and cross section size of the load-supporting beams 1 and lifting beams 3, additional frame members are connected at an angle between the longitudinal frame members 16 and front transverse member 17 and carry load-lifting units 26. Members 70 are made of one of more end connected frame sections 12 connected at their ends to open work wedge-shaped frame sections 69 having an inclined face secured to the sides of frame members 16 and 17.

Frame 7 may carry gratings 64 on top of the frame sections to provide walkways and platforms, if so necessary.

Although shown mounted within frame sections 12, load lifting units 26 could be mounted on top of the same and frame lifting means 45 could be mounted below frame sections 12, keeping in mind that the resultant of the vertical forces exerted on the frame must lie as much as possible in the vertical central plane of frame sections 12 to prevent torsion of the latter.

From the foregoing, it is seen that the vehicle of the present invention is highly flexible in its use, because it can be adapted to the transport of loads of various sizes and shapes. It is made of interconnectable modular frame elements, preferably of the open framework type. Moreover, the vehicle provides for quick and easy erection of its component elements with the help, for instance, of a small wheeled crane for the handling of the various frame sections and wheeled units.

The vehicle can be used for the transport of various types of loads, but its main use is for the transport of houses with or without their foundations. The house can be lifted off one site and accurately positioned at another site on already prepared footings or foundation walls.

The vehicle provides for the quick removal, transport and repositioning of a house or the like. The fitting of the frame 7 so as to conform to the outside shape and to closely surround the house, is quickly made with a reduced personnel. Whenever a number of houses have to be transported, the next house may be prepared with the beams l and 3 and the snubbing means 65 to 68, while one house is transported, so that the next house is ready for hooking to the frame member after the latter has been installed around the house.

The vehicle of the invention allows for very safe handling of a house during its removal transport and repositioning. The house is lifted without warping of the same, because the loadlifting units 26 may be accurately operated and also because the frame 7 may be reinforced in accordance with the weight of the house. The control of the load-lifting units may be centralized at one location for the accurate operation of the same. During transport of the house, the frame is supported from three points or more, depending on the type of ground and of the weight of the house, assuring perfect stabilization of the assembly. At the new site the house can be very accurately positioned on the footing or new foundation, because of the use of the steerable and motorized wheel units 8 which can be remote controlled. The frame 7 can be very quickly dismounted to clear the house and for the return trip of the empty vehicle. This return trip may be effected by narrowing down the frame to suit road regulations. Any number of motorized wheeled units may be used and their location changed to suit different types of loads, to assure stability of the assembly and to obtain the required tractive power.

I claim:

1. A vehicle for the transport of large size heavy loads, of different shapes and/or sizes, such as houses, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed frame structure made of separate modular elongated frame sections detachably and rigidly interconnected in end-to-end and side-to-end relation andarranged to closely surround the outside of at least three sides of the load, wheeled units detachably secured to the underside of said frame structure at variable locations along the latter to support the same above ground, said wheeled units clearing the load surrounded by said frame structure, poweroperated means for moving said frame structure along the ground and power-actuated load-lifting means carried by said frame structure for raising said load relative to the frame structure and including beams adapted to extend across and sustain the bottom portion of the load.

2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame sections include open work, elongated, braced, boxlike elements resistant to bending.

3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frame sections further include wedge-shaped open work connector members for connecting said elongated boxlike elements at an inclined angle relative to each other.

4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame structure comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members and a pair of spaced parallel front and back transverse frame members rigidly interconnecting longitudinally spaced portions of said longitudinal frame members, the latter projecting forwardly of said front transverse member, a towing frame member disposed parallel to said transverse frame members forwardly of said front transverse frame member and connected to the front ends of said longitudinal frame members, all of said members made up of said frame sections with said longitudinal and front and back transverse frame members adapted to closely surround a load, said power-operated means for moving the frame structure along the ground including at least one wheeled structure detachably connected to the underside of said towing frame member.

5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheeled structure is pivotally connected to said towing frame member for movement about a vertical axis.

6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said towing frame member is pivotally connected to said longitudinal frame members by means of universal pivot joints.

7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said power-actuated means for moving said frame structure along the ground further include a towing truck detachably and pivotally connected to said wheeled structure.

8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said frame members consists of superposed rows of interconnected frame sections.

9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said longitudinal frame members forms an offset portion projecting outwardly of the frame structure, at least one of said wheeled units detachably secured underneath said offset portion.

10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, further including additional inverted U-shaped frame structures secured in upright position to said first-named frame structure at longitudinally spaced zones of the latter and adapted to surround the sides and top of a load sustained by said first-named frame structure, said additional frame structures made of said frame sections, and means carried by said additional frame structures and engageable with the sides of said load at points above the plane of said first-named structure to prevent tilting of the load.

11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, further including additional elongated frame members secured atone end to the inside face of at least one longitudinal frame member and at the other end to the inside face of at least one transverse member and extending at an angle relative to said last named two frame members.

12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame sections have a rectangular cross-sectional shape and the frame sections constituting said frame members are arranged with their longitudinal cross-sectional axis substantially perpendicular to ground and wherein said towing frame member is fitted at the sides of at least the central portion thereof with additional frame sections arranged with their longitudinal cross-sectional axis substantially parallel with respect to ground.

13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheeled structure is a wheeled unit having power-driven and powersteerable ground-engaging wheels.

14. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said wheeled units have power-driven and power-steerable ground-engaging wheels and said vehicle further includes power-actuated ground-engaging frame structure lifting means carried by said frame structure to lift said frame structure and said wheeled units off the ground.

15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one wheeled unit includes an upper casing arranged for detachable nonrotary connection to the underside of said frame structure, a lower casing rotatably connected to said upper casing for turning movement about a vertical axis, a tandem wheel train attached to and supporting said lower casing, power-operated means to turn said lower casing relative to said upper casing and power-operated means to drive said wheel train.

16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further including means to steer said last-named wheeled unit when detached from said frame structure.

17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said wheel train includes two pairs of nonsteerable wheels and wherein said last-named means include brake means for each wheel of the two pairs of wheels and wherein said power-operated driving means include differential driving means interconnecting the wheels of each pair respectively, said differential driving means having input shafts drivingly connected to a power source to drive said wheel train, whereby braking the wheels on the inside of a turn causes differential rotation of the wheels on the outside of the turn to thus steer the wheeled unit. 

1. A vehicle for the transport of large size heavy loads, of different shapes and/or sizes, such as houses, comprising a substantially horizontally disposed frame structure made of separate modular elongated frame sections detachably and rigidly interconnected in end-to-end and side-to-end relation and arranged to closely surround the outside of at least three sides of the load, wheeled units detachably secured to the underside of said frame structure at variable locations along the latter to support the same above ground, said wheeled units Clearing the load surrounded by said frame structure, power-operated means for moving said frame structure along the ground and power-actuated load-lifting means carried by said frame structure for raising said load relative to the frame structure and including beams adapted to extend across and sustain the bottom portion of the load.
 2. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame sections include open work, elongated, braced, boxlike elements resistant to bending.
 3. A vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein said frame sections further include wedge-shaped open work connector members for connecting said elongated boxlike elements at an inclined angle relative to each other.
 4. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein said frame structure comprises a pair of longitudinal frame members and a pair of spaced parallel front and back transverse frame members rigidly interconnecting longitudinally spaced portions of said longitudinal frame members, the latter projecting forwardly of said front transverse member, a towing frame member disposed parallel to said transverse frame members forwardly of said front transverse frame member and connected to the front ends of said longitudinal frame members, all of said members made up of said frame sections with said longitudinal and front and back transverse frame members adapted to closely surround a load, said power-operated means for moving the frame structure along the ground including at least one wheeled structure detachably connected to the underside of said towing frame member.
 5. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheeled structure is pivotally connected to said towing frame member for movement about a vertical axis.
 6. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said towing frame member is pivotally connected to said longitudinal frame members by means of universal pivot joints.
 7. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said power-actuated means for moving said frame structure along the ground further include a towing truck detachably and pivotally connected to said wheeled structure.
 8. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said frame members consists of superposed rows of interconnected frame sections.
 9. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of said longitudinal frame members forms an offset portion projecting outwardly of the frame structure, at least one of said wheeled units detachably secured underneath said offset portion.
 10. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, further including additional inverted U-shaped frame structures secured in upright position to said first-named frame structure at longitudinally spaced zones of the latter and adapted to surround the sides and top of a load sustained by said first-named frame structure, said additional frame structures made of said frame sections, and means carried by said additional frame structures and engageable with the sides of said load at points above the plane of said first-named structure to prevent tilting of the load.
 11. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, further including additional elongated frame members secured atone end to the inside face of at least one longitudinal frame member and at the other end to the inside face of at least one transverse member and extending at an angle relative to said last-named two frame members.
 12. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said frame sections have a rectangular cross-sectional shape and the frame sections constituting said frame members are arranged with their longitudinal cross-sectional axis substantially perpendicular to ground and wherein said towing frame member is fitted at the sides of at least the central portion thereof with additional frame sections arranged with their longitudinal cross-sectional axis substantially parallel with respect to ground.
 13. A vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein said wheeled structure is a wheeled unit having power-driven and power-steerable ground-engaging wheels.
 14. A vehicle as claimed iN claim 1, wherein said wheeled units have power-driven and power-steerable ground-engaging wheels and said vehicle further includes power-actuated ground-engaging frame structure lifting means carried by said frame structure to lift said frame structure and said wheeled units off the ground.
 15. A vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one wheeled unit includes an upper casing arranged for detachable nonrotary connection to the underside of said frame structure, a lower casing rotatably connected to said upper casing for turning movement about a vertical axis, a tandem wheel train attached to and supporting said lower casing, power-operated means to turn said lower casing relative to said upper casing and power-operated means to drive said wheel train.
 16. A vehicle as claimed in claim 15, further including means to steer said last-named wheeled unit when detached from said frame structure.
 17. A vehicle as claimed in claim 16, wherein said wheel train includes two pairs of nonsteerable wheels and wherein said last-named means include brake means for each wheel of the two pairs of wheels and wherein said power-operated driving means include differential driving means interconnecting the wheels of each pair respectively, said differential driving means having input shafts drivingly connected to a power source to drive said wheel train, whereby braking the wheels on the inside of a turn causes differential rotation of the wheels on the outside of the turn to thus steer the wheeled unit. 